Latvia bans the niqab in public places

format_quote Originally Posted by Glac09

“Anybody could be under a veil or under a burqa,” she said. “You could carry a rocket launcher under your veil. It’s not funny.”

Surely it´s not funny but they also should ban people to use loose-fitting dresses or jackets. Better if people would walk on public wearing only the bikinis.

What was good in this news, they did not at least pretend to defend women's rights as the French. They only are openly racists.

Meh. 'A danger to society'. In that respect, I find goths and punks more intimidating than a woman in niqab. But in fairness to them I suppose, the way ISIS are so unashamedly using Islam as a justification for their actions and associating our Deen with terrorism, the fear people may have for those who look obviously Muslim is inevitable, if not exactly making sense. Still, this is a step backwards, rather than forwards.

And a long trench coat or a large rucksack can hide far more than an abaya, this is poor justification.

And this:

only three people being known to wear them in the entire country

I bet there also haven´t any evidences that those three people would carry under their clothes anything danger "for a society".

The European value of protecting culture. Lol simply contradictory

So annoying really, and hypocritical when they bang on about freedom of speech or freedom of expression. This law is going to have the precise opposite effect on what it was supposedly meant to counter.

Let's not forget freedom of religion. The assumption that European culture is monolithic. I really really want Muslim countries to all implement strict clothing. No need to see half naked women in Dubai.

The societies of the Eastern European countries are usually well known about their suspiciousness and quite direct racism against strange cultures and immigrants. By this, kind of laws aren´t very surprising. Other thing is that during their recent history has the era of Soviet rule, when their own culture was in real danger. Anyways, making kind of law because a tiny monirity (Muslims whose use niqab) is just only a over-reaction.

format_quote Originally Posted by Bhabha

Let's not forget freedom of religion. The assumption that European culture is monolithic. I really really want Muslim countries to all implement strict clothing. No need to see half naked women in Dubai.

Or in Tunisia or in Egypt or in Jordan... But they would blame Muslims as the narrow-mindedness. Freedom is one of the values what European societies never stops to glorify. Specially when they impose their own values to others.

format_quote Originally Posted by sister herb

Or in Tunisia or in Egypt or in Jordan... But they would blame Muslims as the narrow-mindedness. Freedom is one of the values what European societies never stops to glorify. Specially when they impose their own values to others.

Their concept of freedom is "if you obey us, and come with us, you can do whatever you want, just don't act Muslim, or implement Islam" Audhu billah.

They want to eradicate Islam. However Islam will prevail, even though they dislike it.

Forced freedom. I agree, Muslim countries should enforce rules of modesty. The entire world condemns Saudi Arabia's enforcement of hijab but supports Frances decisions to dictate to Muslims women what they should wear. Here any claims of democracy fly out the window.

The more a government body restricts and oppresses a group the more publicity & awareness the restriction raises.

So even though they may be using 'security' as a reason for their ban it will only encourage more people to convert/revert and the Muslims to be more practising insha Allah. Some might even migrate and practise their faith in a land which permits Islamic rules.

Terrorism won't stop with the banning of niqaabs.

Terrorism will only stop if the governments stop invading Muslim countries.

This ban reminds me about the parody song from the movie "Fiddler on the roof", it´s Muslim version. Ok, it has music so I don´t put link here (but you can ask it from google as "If I was not a Muslim").

From the video:

"..if I were a Christian, I wouldn´t have to prove I am a human too, because when you are a Christian you are always civilized, no matter what you wear or do..."

Well, thanks ISIS!!!

...can't get through airport security? Not kanye West?

Thanks ISIS!!

But seriously, those three women.. Should not marry extremists.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-n...en-who-7805271

The reason of Latvian authorities give for the ban is extremely stupid..hiding weapons under niqab..

However, I personally think that Muslim women don't need to wear niqab..It is a culture more than a commandment..And it hides the identity if a police ask you to show your face can you resist that?

The wearing of the niqab right now in an age of quick snaps and phone pictures is to enforce the protection of women from having their face randomly snapped. I see so many pictures of Muslim women online. Pictures that were not snapped by anyone other than a curious George who wanted to see get that picture. Niqabs protect against this random and quite common intrusion of privacy. If no one can protect me from having my face randomly snapped in public and broadcasted on the internet then why should I be prevented from wearing something to ensure this protection?

format_quote Originally Posted by hisnameiszzz

Surely it's the woman's choice if she wears one or not. And yes if the Police asked her to show her face then that's okay too as long as the Police had good reason to question her.

Yes I think so.